Daily Republican., 1887-07-21
A BOILER ExPLODEs.
Edward Stroud and n Colored Lad
Named Crawford Instantly Killed
Two Persons Injured.


Named Crawford Instantly Killed
Two Persons Injured.
A threshing machine boiler exploded
= yesterday afternoon about O'Clock on
the farm of Edward Stroud, about two
and half miles from Newark, on the
Eikton turnpike, Maryland side of the
Stare line 10 Cecil County, instantly
killing Edward Stroud, owner Of the
farm, and Walter H. Crawford, . IA
, year.old oolored lad In Mr.. Stroud's o
employ. Frank r. Stroud, oldest son
Of the unfortunate man killed, and
Lewis L. Pritchard were scalded and in.
jured but not 30 seriously ss Was at frst
supposed.
NocAuse is assipne for the explosion
Of the boiler. Edward Bowen ow ms the
thresher and tho boiler, and made q
business OF going around amongst the
farmers threshing out their wheat He
came to Mr.. Stroud's place yesterday
forenoon to thresh out his crop. The
engine had been making an excellent
record amongst the farmers in Cecil
County, and was considered one OF the
best. 1t WAS set up at noon In
q feld right back of the barn,
and In close proximity to the wheat
stacks. Nobody ever dreamed OF trou BILE
when the engine WAS put In place, and
when 1t started everything started of
with no more friction than usual. Mr..
Bowen himself bad charge Of the en-
gins, q couple Of men were feeding the
cylinder, and Mr.. Stroud and the color.
ed lad Crawford had . horse and cart
and were engaged In taking away the
straw from the carrier at the farther end
of the thrssher. Everything seemed to
move along all right for o short time.
when . most terrific explosion occurred
which lifted the engine from its place
and sent 1t revolving over and over to
wards the barn, q distance Of about 100
feet. The engine brought up against =
stack OF straw right side up. But II
death behind 1t. Alongside Of Its track
Of death.
The colored boy Crawford, the horse
and the cart, all lay In an inextricable
mass on the spot where they stood but a
before Both boy and horse
were instantly killed. The body of the
boy was terribly broken and bruised,
his head and face were cut open, his left
arm and leg broken In three or four
places, tho left eide crushed In ard his
ribs nearly all broken. Mr.. Stroud be
log knocked to one side, out OF the
course of the engine, his body escaped
much mutilation. The bones OF his jaw
and in his neck were crushed, causing
instant death. Frank e. Streud,
son Of the unfortunate man,
Eiward Stroud and Lewis L. Pritchard,
his brother in. law, the first employs
in assisting in threshing and the latter
merely locker on, were both badly
scslded. the first also other wise broised
and Injured. A message having been
sent TO Newark, Drs. Clark, Kollock
and Whistler all hastily responded and
were on the ground. They gave their
attentions entirely to the injured men,
but fortunately found their iujuries NOT
of q necessarily fatal character. Mr..
ST. uoud, Jr., Is slightly scalded on the
body and has an ugly cash on the lower
jaw. Mr.. Pritchnrd is quite badly
ncalded about the stomach, groin ana
thighs, and will not be able to be re
moved to his home in this city for q
few days.
Young Stroud was removed to his
home, opposite that of his unfortunate
father, where his wounds " ere dressed
but In the evening he was able to be at
ths scene Of the disaster. Mr..
Pritchard was put to bed ut
the farm house. Coroner Litzsn.
berg OF Cecil County, who resides
at Elkton, was notified, and he soon re
sponded, bringing Drs Bratton and
lamar with him. The Coroner made
an examination Of the premises and
then postponed further ACTORS until
IL 10 morning. when an inquest will be
held In Elkton.
The exploded engine had been at
work for the last two weeks, and yes
terday forenoon 1t was used on P. Wal
toms farm, near Mr.. Stroud's place. 1t
wac brought to Mr.. Stroud's place at
noon and put up, and operations were
commenced At o'clock. Nobody seems
to know that anything was wrong with
the engine. A moment before the ex
plosion the water gauge WAS examined
and showed plenty Of water. The en-.
glne has capacity Of 100 pounds, but
was working under . pressure of only
20, and had often registered 80. 1t is she
general impression, however, that tie
heller was detective.
The engine ts O complete wreck. The
end was found 600 feet away, and the
crate was blown into scores of piecee.
Undertaken Wesley Hart OF Newark
came and took charge of the bodies.
The funeral of Mr.. Strou1 will be on
Saturday. The remains Of the colored
boy were taken TO his grandmother o
residence, on the road between Stanton
aud Christiana. DR.. j. III. lamar Of
Elkton sewed up the aashes In his face
and head to make the romans more
presentable. The mother Of the colored
boy was employed as n dom eatic in the
family Of Meyer Meyers, Fifth and
Market streets, this city, and tainted
this morning when she heard of the 40.
cident to her son.
Edward Stroud was about ~ years of
age, and was oro OF the leading farmers
In the community. He attended the
Wilmington markets 30 regularly that
he 10 known to many Wilrningtonians.
De leaves widow and six children.
Three Of his children are married. Two
grown sons and another 16 years oA age
helped the father to work the farm.
Frank r. Stroud 10 q married son
He is married to daughter Of DIR.
Isaac L Dsvou, No. 701 Tatnsll street.
DR.. Devon went down on the first train
yesterday afternoon after being apprised
by telegraph of the accid ent.
Lewis L. Piitchard's relations reside
In the neighborhood, but for several
years past he has resided in this city.
He married the daughter of Mrs. DR..
Isaac l.. Devou by former husband.
His wife had for some time been down
amongst the Strouds, and yesterday
morning Mr.. Pritchard took run
down partly to see his wife and child.
He is employed since last spring IS q
clerk in tho store of p. j. Walsh & Co. I,
sos Market street.